Most attempts to generalize about “today’s seniors” fail. “Seniors” range from age 55 to 116, at present. It should go without saying (but too often needs to be said) that there are active seniors, sedentary seniors, ill seniors, healthy seniors, rich seniors, poor seniors, and so on. “Banana George,” a New York senior known for his yellow attire, set the world record for barefoot water skiing five years ago, when he was 92. Chew on that.

But one truth about aging is that our bodies start to need a little extra help with every passing year. Aging bodies can lose the ability to produce or use essential chemicals, minerals and nutrients that support healthy living. So let’s look at a few of the top supplements that seniors should consider taking to keep on enjoying everyday tasks (or even barefoot waterskiing). As always, ask you physician if you have concerns about your health or whether any particular supplement is right for you. 

Best Supplements for Seniors

Fish Oil

Fish oil seems to be recommended for nearly every ailment and used as a preventative measure for nearly everything that can go wrong as we age. That’s why supplemental fish oil is an industry taking in around $1 billion a year. As with so many things in the practice of nutrition, the exact science of why fish oil does what it does is still being figured out. But what fish oil intake helps is fairly well known by now, such as helping to support cardiovascular health.

Most fundamentally, fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as the fatty acid DHA. Fish oil has been successfully used to help combat dryness in the eyes and skin. It can also lower triglycerides in individuals with elevated levels.

Other purported benefits of fish oil supplementation, such as helping with Alzheimer’s, prostate cancer and depression, are far more debatable, and these debates are easily found on the web¹.

Categories: Healthy Heart

Calcium

Calcium may be the least controversial ingredient available in supplement form, and its importance is especially strong for seniors. About 99 percent of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth, where it acts as a main source of strength and support. Children are often given calcium to support bone growth. On the other side of the coin, seniors are often prescribed calcium to help prevent bone decay. Women are especially prone to post-menopausal osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease, and have been shown to benefit from supplementary calcium. The body uses calcium for important non-bone functions, too, like hormone secretion and muscle function.

Calcium is readily available in dairy products, but many people need to cut dairy out of their diets for other health reasons, making calcium supplements a very good choice.²

Calcium is one of the 7 most important nutrients you can’t miss.

Categories: Bone and joint health

SAM-e

Like Ubiquinol, SAM-e is a chemical produced naturally in the body but replicated in the lab for those whose SAM-e levels are insufficient. SAM-e (or S-adenosylmethionine) is made from an amino acid and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which you may know as a powerful coenzyme used by cells to transfer energy.

Early research of SAM-e done in the 1950s is interesting. Researchers believed SAM-e could help alleviate depression and were testing for that effect. While SAM-e did seem to help alleviate depression by increasing serotonin and dopamine levels, the subjects of the original study reported an unexpected improvement in symptoms related to osteoarthritis. SAM-e is generally well-tolerated and might help ease osteoarthritis pain.

Categories: osteoarthritis, depression

Probiotics

Another essential aspect of nutrition found almost exclusively in dairy products is a class of bacteria called probiotics. Probiotics are organisms that chiefly aid in digestion but have been shown to help with other issues involving bowel movements and excretory function. You’ve probably seen the word “probiotic” splashed across yogurt cartons. As with calcium, though, if you are averse to dairy for whatever reason, your probiotic intake may be less than what it should be, so taking probiotic supplements is a good idea.

Category: dairy restrictions, digestion, excretory system

CoQ10 and Ubiquinol

CoQ10 is a natural antioxidant that aids in cellular energy exchange, promotes heart health, supports in major organ function and a host of other important physical processes. (You can read all about it in other blogs on this site.) What is especially important for seniors to know is that the active, antioxidant form of CoQ10 is called Ubiquinol. The body naturally produces CoQ10 and then converts it into Ubiquinol, which is the form the body needs in order to actually use it. As we age, our cells can lose the ability to convert CoQ10 into Ubiquinol. It’s only been in the past few years that Ubiquinol became commercially available in supplement form, but today Ubiquinol is available in many brands of easy-to-swallow oral supplements. 

Lastly, supplemental Ubiquinol is usually a good idea for the approximately 32 million Americans over the age of 45 who take statin drugs for their cardiovascular health.⁴ An unintended—but so far unresolved—consequence of statin therapy is that it gets in the way of the body’s natural ability to produce CoQ10. More specifically, statin drugs block a receptor the body uses to convert CoQ10 into Ubiquinol. Ubiquinol has been shown to effectively replace depleted levels of CoQ10 from statin medication use, and studies have shown that Ubiquinol promotes healthy aging in older adults.

Categories: Heart health, cardiovascular health, cellular energy, antioxidant protection

The key to staying happy and healthy as we age seems to be a complex arrangement of mental activity, physical activity, meaningful relationships and more. But we can help our bodies tremendously by taking advantage of some of the key nutritional and dietary supplements available today. Most of these supplements come in liquid form or as gummies for those who have difficulty swallowing pills, and some manufacturers now package these supplements in non-childproof bottles that are easy to open for seniors who struggle with joint pain.

Now you are ready to learn more about all the benefits of Ubiquinol.

Is Ubiquinol The Same As CoQ10?

For many years, there was just coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone. Then there was something new on the market — Ubiquinol. What is this new form? Does it play a different role than coenzyme Q10? What are its unique benefits?

Ubiquinol and coenzyme Q10 are in fact very similar molecules. But the small alteration that makes them different is what gives them their unique role in energy production. That change also makes a big difference in the bioavailability, transportability, and antioxidant activity in the body.† Read on to learn more about all of this.

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10

The difference between Ubiquinol and CoQ10 lies in two electrons (along with the 2 hydrogen atoms, “H,” that come with the electrons). Look at the structures below – see the two lone “Os” (oxygens) of coenzyme Q10? Add the two electrons and the hydrogens and those Os turn into “OHs” (hydroxyl groups), and now you have Ubiquinol. Oh!

Not only can coenzyme Q10 switch into Ubiquinol, but Ubiquinol can just as easily give up those two electrons and hydrogens, and switch right back into coenzyme Q10. This does in fact happen many times a minute inside the body. When the electrons come on, the molecule is called “reduced,” and when they come off, it is called “oxidized.” This is why Ubiquinol is called “the reduced form of coenzyme Q10.”

So what’s the big deal? Well, this flipping back and forth between the two forms holds the key to the major role of coenzyme Q10/Ubiquinol in the body – producing energy from the food you eat. Does it get more essential? This is much like the way a car burns gas in the engine to provide the energy to keep it moving. In your body, the engines are little machines called mitochondria that are found inside almost all of your cells.

How is food turned into energy? The bonds that hold together a molecule of food, say sugar, contain lots of energy. By breaking those bonds, that energy is released and can be captured and used. The capturing mechanism is like a line of crisis workers who are quickly passing sandbags one to the next to get them to the site of use. Coenzyme Q10/Ubiquinol is like one of these workers, and what it is passing is the released energy, in the form of… electrons! So coenzyme Q10/Ubiquinol spends its day flipping back and forth as it passes electrons along to their final destination, while the energy is put into a usable form.

And you can also see how a deficiency in coenzyme Q10/Ubiquinol would have a great impact on the body’s ability to produce energy.

Which Is Better: CoQ10 or Ubiquinol?

Let’s take a look at some important properties of coenzyme Q10 versus Ubiquinol. As you may know, coenzyme Q10 is not highly absorbable in the body. But Ubiquinol is.1-8 The amount of absorption will vary based on a person’s age and state of health, but in every published comparative study that has been done, Ubiquinol has consistently been much better absorbed than coenzyme Q10.†1-6

We also said there is a difference in transportability. In fact, Ubiquinol is the form that is most preferred by the body for transport in the blood.† In a healthy adult, more than 95% of the total coenzyme Q10 in the blood is in the Ubiquinol form.†7-9 If coenzyme Q10 is ingested, the body quickly transforms it into Ubiquinol. Some people cannot perform that transition very efficiently, and therefore receive very little benefit if they take coenzyme Q10 as opposed to Ubiquinol (look for a future blog on this topic!).

Ubiquniol As An Antioxidant

Lastly, Ubiquinol acts as an antioxidant in the body, but coenzyme Q10 does not.† This is due to the two extra electrons Ubiquinol holds.10 What makes a free radical so dangerous is that it is looking to steal electrons… and it will steal them from whatever it comes in contact with – your DNA, cell membranes, cholesterol floating around in your blood. All of these become damaged and/or disease-causing when they lose their electrons! So if the electrons can come from something that doesn’t mind giving them up (like Ubiquinol), then the free radical is neutralized, everyone is happy and no damage occurs.

What’s more, Ubiquinol is one of the few antioxidants that works in the fatty (lipid) parts of the body, such as cell membranes and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.10 But one of the most important places it acts as an antioxidant is in the mitochondria themselves. This is because the mitochondria are factories for free radicals. Just as in our car analogy the engine produces exhaust (which is full of free radicals!) the mitochondria has its form of free radical-laden exhaust. Therefore, Ubiquinol has a big job protecting the mitochondria and their lipid membranes from attack.10-12 Ubiquinol also supports the whole antioxidant network in the body by recycling vitamin E, the other lipid-soluble antioxidant, and vitamin C.^11,12

Now you are an expert on the differences between coenzyme Q10 and Ubiquinol. They are both critical for energy-production, but there are big differences when you look at bioavailability and transportability. In addition, only Ubiquinol acts as a rare lipid-soluble antioxidant. 

Read more about the benefits of Ubiquinol.

1. Miles MV, Horn P, Milesc L, Tanga P, Steele P, DeGrauwa T. Bioequivalence of coenzyme Q10 from over-the-counter supplements. Nutr Res.  2002:22(8):919-929.
2. Bhagavan HN, Chopra RK. Plasma coenzyme Q10 response to oral ingestion of coenzyme Q10 formulations. Mitochondrion. 2007 Jun;7 Suppl:S78-88. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482886/
3. Evans M, Baisley J, Barss S, Guthrie N.  A randomized, double-blind trial on the bioavailability of two CoQ10 formulations. Journal of Functional Foods. 2009. 1: 65-73.
4. Mohr D, Bowry VW, Stocker R. Dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 results in increased levels of ubiquinol-10 within circulating lipoproteins and increased resistance of human low-density lipoprotein to the initiation of lipid peroxidation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1992 Jun 26;1126(3):247-54.  https://www.integratedhealth.com/downloads/CoQ10Study.pdf
5. Shoko D, Fujii K, Kurihara T.  The effect of the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinol, Kaneka  QH™ ) on QOL improvement in the elderly.  J Clin Therap Med 2008; 24:233-238.
6. Schmelzer C, Niklowitz P, Okun JG, Haas D, Menke T, Döring F. Ubiquinol-induced gene expression signatures are translated into altered parameters of erythropoiesis and reduced low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in humans. IUBMB Life. 2011 Jan;63(1):42-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21280176/
7. Hosoe K, Kitano M, Kishida H, Kubo H, Fujii K, Kitahara M. Study on safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after single and 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007 Feb;47(1):19-28.
8. Tang PH, Miles MV, DeGrauw A, Hershey A, Pesce A. HPLC analysis of reduced and oxidized coenzyme Q(10) in human plasma. Clin Chem. 2001 Feb;47(2):256-65.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11159774
9. Yamashita S, Yamamoto Y. Simultaneous detection of ubiquinol and ubiquinone in human plasma as a marker of oxidative stress. Anal Biochem. 1997 Jul 15;250(1):66-73.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9234900/
10. Frei B, Kim MC, Ames BN. Ubiquinol-10 is an effective lipid-soluble antioxidant at physiological concentrations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Jun;87(12):4879-83.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2352956/
11. Littarru GP, Tiano L.  Bioenergetic and antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10: recent developments.  Mol Biotechnol 2007;37(1):31-37.
12. Ernster L, Forsmark-Andrée P. Ubiquinol: an endogenous antioxidant in aerobic organisms. Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S60-5.
13. Hargreaves IP, Duncan AJ, Heales SJ, Land JM. The effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on coenzyme Q10: possible biochemical/clinical implications. Drug Saf. 2005;28(8):659 76.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16048353/

† This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Always consult with your physician before taking any supplements alone or in conjunction with pharmaceutical drugs.

Did you know that every Ubiquinol supplement is made with Kaneka’s Ubiquinol® ingredient? As the only manufacturer of this important ingredient, Kaneka prides itself on upholding the highest standards of health and safety throughout the manufacturing process. Read on to learn more about how Ubiquinol is manufactured.

Where Is Ubiquinol Manufactured?

Kaneka Nutrients manufactures Ubiquinol in Pasadena, Texas. This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility uses a comprehensive security system to monitor and control access to the building. Kaneka’s expert production team and scientists constantly produce and test batches of Ubiquinol under FDA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations.

Is Ubiquinol Tested?

Kaneka’s expert scientists created Ubiquinol that’s biochemically identical to the nutrient your body produces. Kaneka Ubiquinol® is produced and tested in a controlled environment to maintain its integrity and quality. Once the ingredient passes inspection, it’s packaged and shipped to supplement companies for use in the hundreds of Ubiquinol brands available in stores and online.

Kaneka Routinely Tests Ubiquinol’s Quality

Kaneka’s team of researchers and technicians routinely monitor the quality of the Kaneka Ubiquinol® ingredient even after it’s used to create a retail brand of Ubiquinol softgel. Kaneka team members regularly purchase samples of various brands to test in our Quality Control Lab.

Thanks to these rigorous standards, you can rest assured that Kaneka Nutrients is committed to ensuring the quality of every Ubiquinol supplement.  To find the perfect Ubiquinol supplement for you, explore NewQ’s selection now!

Shop Now

As an over-the-counter dietary supplement, you don’t need a prescription to take Ubiquinol, and Ubiquinol is safe.¹⁷  Research has shown that the Ubiquinol form of CoQ10 has important benefits like supporting optimal heart health and serving as a powerful antioxidant.^{11 13}

However, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting any new kind of medication or supplement. When asking your doctor about Ubiquinol, it’s a good idea to discuss other heart-related health concerns you may have, such as your diet, activity levels, and cholesterol, especially if you’re currently taking statins. To guide your conversation, read our tips for talking to your doctor about heart health and download our heart-health checklist to reference during your next checkup.

If you’ve already talked to your doctor about the benefits of Ubiquinol, find the right supplement for you by browsing our selection.

Shop Now

When you’re starting a new supplement, you’ll likely have questions about how you’ll feel, how to get started, and what to expect. To help you learn more about starting your Ubiquinol supplement, we’ve created a 90-day guide. Read on to discover crucial milestones, how to stick to your new regimen, and what to expect during the first 3 months of taking Ubiquinol.

What To Expect The First 2 Weeks Of Taking Ubiquinol

Many people are surprised to discover that they may not feel anything when taking a Ubiquinol supplement. Just like taking a vitamin C, omega supplement, or multivitamin, Ubiquinol will start to make a positive impact on your health, but may not affect how you feel. Once you begin taking your supplement, rest assured that Ubiquinol is working at the cellular level to help support your organs to function properly.  To help you kick-start your journey with Ubiquinol, follow these steps:

Determine Your Recommended Dose

Consult your doctor about how much Ubiquinol you should take. For adults, the usual recommended daily dose of Ubiquinol is 100mg. Older individuals and people with health concerns may benefit from taking 200mg, especially for the first two weeks. If your doctor recommends a higher starting dose, be sure to ask them for how long you should take a higher amount.

Create A Habit

Starting any new habit can be difficult. To help you get into the habit of taking your Ubiquinol supplement daily, try some of these tips:

• Set a daily reminder on your phone
• Combine taking your supplement with an everyday task, like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast
• Portion out your daily dose of Ubiquinol into a pill container. Then, place it in a prominent location to serve as a visual reminder

Read More: When To Take Ubiquinol: Morning or Night?

What To Expect During Months 1-2 Of Taking Ubiquinol

After two weeks, ask your doctor if you should reduce your Ubiquinol dosage to 100mg per day if you started with a higher dose. If you have a 30-day supply of Ubiquinol, be sure to re-order your supplement around this time so you don’t run out. During these 2 months, you should also:

Find The Best Ubiquinol Brand For You

The first brand of Ubiquinol you ordered may not be your perfect fit, and that’s okay! There are hundreds of options for Ubiquinol supplements to cater to your needs. If you don’t love the brand you’re using, use NewQ.com’s filtering feature to find the right choice for you. Using this feature, you’ll be able to sort Ubiquinol brands by dietary needs and ingredients.

Consider Your Habits

If you’re still struggling to remember to take your Ubiquinol supplement after the 1-month mark, consider trying a different strategy. The more consistent you are, the better Ubiquinol can support your heart and other organs.

What To Expect During Month 3 Of Taking Ubiquinol

After 60 days of taking Ubiquinol, your new heart-healthy habit should feel like second nature, and it may be time to consider other positive changes:

Sign Up For The Subscription Program

After you find a brand you love, sign up for the NewQ subscription program. Not only will you save 5% on every order, but you’ll also receive automatic refills of your Ubiquinol prescription so you never run out. Signing up for the program is a great way to continue your healthy habit while saving you time and hassle.

Start Another Healthy Habit

Taking a Ubiquinol supplement is a great way to kick-start your heart health journey. If you’re feeling ready for a new challenge, think about other healthy habits you could add to your daily and weekly routines. Whether it’s starting an exercise program or making some heart-healthy diet swaps, look for more ways you can support your health goals.

Starting your Ubiquinol supplement is an exciting, easy way to support your heart health.  If you have concerns or questions about your journey with Ubiquinol, don’t hesitate to contact our support team.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to be used as or substituted for medical advice.  Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health care provider with any questions about your health or a medical condition.  Never disregard or delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read on the internet.

Ubiquinol, the active form of CoQ10, is often taken as a supplement to support heart health and healthy aging. If you’re shopping for the best Ubiquinol supplement for your needs, you may notice that all Ubiquinol supplements are softgels, and for an important reason.

Softgels Help Ubiquinol Remain In Its Active Form

In the body, CoQ10 constantly changes into Ubiquinol and back again as part of the cellular energy production cycle. In this cycle, conventional CoQ10 takes on an extra electron to become Ubiquinol, which helps power your heart, lungs, and other organs. Since CoQ10 is constantly changing into Ubiquinol and back again, supplement creators needed to find a way to harness Ubiquinol’s power without it turning back into CoQ10. By using a softgel, Ubiquinol remains in its active form and provides several benefits:

• Superior bioavailability ¹¹
• Helps prevent damage in the body caused by oxidative stress ¹⁸
• Works as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals in the body ^{13 19}

Ubiquinol supplements are easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Find the right Ubiquinol supplement for you today!

Shop Now

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to be used as or substituted for medical advice.  Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health care provider with any questions about your health or a medical condition.  Never disregard or delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read on the internet.